Extension planned for successful village centre
by JULIE-ANN SPENCE
David Agnew, manager, outside the Village Centre, Hillsborough. US4411-541cd
THE Village Centre in Hillsborough has proven to be such a success that a new extension is now being planned.
The centre, at Ballynahinch Road in the village, is so popular with the local community that manager David Agnew has been struggling to accommodate everyone.
"Most of our rooms are operating at full capacity," explained David. "We even have to accommodate some meetings in the changing rooms. Since we opened the demand has kept building and building."
The planned extension will include multi-purpose rooms, as well as an all weather playing surface on the existing playing field and additional car parking. "The majority of rooms would be multi-purpose rooms, open to the community, suitable for arts and sports," David continued.
A public consultation on the plans was carried out and David said one of the facilities the community were keen to see provided at the centre was a fitness suite, which is still being considered.
"The success we have had is entirely down to the fact that people in Hillsborough got right behind it," he added.
The application has been lodged with the Planning Service and David
is hoping that, depending on the granting of planning permission and
funding, the scheme could be completed in the next year.
David has thanked fenders and supporters who have helped to make the
centre a success, including Awards for All, who helped to fund the
feasibility study and the planning application, Lagan Rural Partnership
who helped to fund the feasibility study through their rural development
programme and Lisburn City Council who also helped to fund the project.
julieann.spence@ulsterstar.co.uk
Ulster Star
04/11/2011
